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4 inmates facing felony charges after jail incident

LISBON — At least one of the recent incidents reported at the Columbian County jail has led to felony charges against four inmates in connection with the assault and robbery of another inmate on April 17.

When the county grand jury met in May secret indictments were issued against Nicholas J. Voigt, 22, Carmel Achor Road, Rogers; Keith G. Dishler, 21, Belmar Street, East Liverpool; Antuan M. Parker, also known as Twan, 39, Warren; and Christian R. Barrow, also known as 2-1, 30, Cleveland.

“The office of the prosecuting attorney seeks to hold persons accountable for their criminal conduct when supported by competent and credible evidence, regardless of where the conduct occurs,” said chief assistant county prosecutor John Gamble when asked about the indictment on Thursday. “If criminal conduct continues to occur at the county jail, and if competent credible evidence is presented to this office which supports it, we will continue to prosecute it.”

Voigt is charged with felonious assault, complicity to felonious assault and tampering with evidence.

Court documents claim Voigt caused serious physical harm to Joshua B. Petersen, while soliciting or procuring Parker, Barrow, Antonio C. Fleming, also known as Ya-O, and Dishler to participate in the commission of the offense. Additionally, Voigt knowing the assault would be investigated, allegedly hid blood evidence and clothing.

Dishler has been charged with complicity to aggravated robbery and felonious assault. Dishler is alleged to have assisted Parker, Barrow and Fleming in the commission of a robbery offense against Petersen and caused serious physical harm to Petersen.

Parker also was served a secret indictment for charges of complicity to aggravated robbery, complicity to felonious assault and tampering with evidence. The charges claim Parker allegedly assisted Voigt, Barrow, Dishler and Fleming in the commission of an aggravated robbery and assault of Petersen, as well attempting to conceal blood evidence and clothing at the conclusion of the crime.

Besides the same charges of complicity to aggravated robbery and felonious assault, Barrow additionally was served a secret indictment for two counts of intimidation. On May 14 through May 15, Petersen attempted to influence and intimidate both Petersen and Robert Hiner with threats of harm or calumny, which is to falsely make defamatory statements to damage someone’s character.

Petersen was in the county jail after being bound over to the grand jury. He is charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, a gun specification and intimidation. On March 20, Peterson allegedly broke into the home of James J. Peters, Harding Avenue, Salem; took a gun; went to a home on Woodsend Drive, Salem, asking for food while holding a gun. Additionally, he is alleged to have threatened to shoot himself or law enforcement who surrounded him in a field where he ran.

Sheriff Ray Stone said another inmate who was about to be released was the one who reported the incident when he saw warden Mike Curley that other inmates had beaten Petersen sometime earlier. Curley passed on the reported information to detective Jeff Haugh, who investigated the case.

At some point after the assault was reported, Petersen was checked by medical personnel.

Stone said Petersen had been to the commissary and purchased about $70 in toiletry and food items, all of which were taken following the assault.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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